Lillyheart's Secret

Chapter Twenty-five

Lillyheart flinched as Murkfall sneezed. Tucking her tail around the tom, she leaned her head against him. "Are you ok?"

Murkfall looked at her, eyes dull with sickness. "You really shouldn't be in here," he replied hoarsely, ignoring her question. "You'll get sick too."

Lillyheart shook her head. "I'm not leaving you," she mewed back, determination shining in her eyes. "Nothing will make me leave you, Murkfall."

A light scoff. "You can say that again," Reedfoot remarked. "I sent a couple warriors in here to draft her out, but with the glares she was giving them, I was worried my den would have a few more cats in it tonight."

Lillyheart ducked her head, trying to hide her embarrassment. "Sorry," she whispered to the medicine cat. Turning back to Murkfall, she licked the base of his ear. "You need to be resting, you know."

Murkfall let out a purr, leaning into the she-cat. "Now why would I do that when I could be with you?"

"Oh come on." There was a gagging sound, and Lillyheart whipped her head around to see Siltpatch rolling his eyes. "Reedfoot, if you're going to let her stay in here, could you at least make her shut up? I can't sleep while the two of them are being all mushy."

Murkfall stuck out his tongue at his brother. "You're just jealous because you don't have anyone to be mushy with yourself."

Siltpatch hushed, and Lillyheart saw his cheeks heat up. "You don't know that," he said finally, looking away. "Quit being a jerk."

"Stop acting like kits." The voice of Owltail snapped, glaring at the three warriors in turn. "Cats are trying to sleep, and you two bickering isn't helping any. And you-" he fixed his glare on Lillyheart. "Please, for the love of Starclan, be quiet. I can't focus with you rambling on about not leaving Murkfall."

Lillyheart ducked her head, the feel of cat's gazes upon her making her fur prickle. She didn't understand why they seemed so harsh...

Murkfall glared at the medicine cat, then tucked his tail around Lillyheart, his voice low and soft. "Don't worry, Lillyheart. They're just furballs."

"Pff." Lillyheart touched her nose to Markfall's. "I thought you were my furball?"

Yawning, Murkfall nodded. "Yep. Your daft furball. And you're mine."

Lillyheart watched him with slight concern. "You really should sleep, you know. We'll have plenty of time to be together after you get better. But I don't think Reedfoot approves of me keeping his patients awake."

Murkfall nodded, his eyes growing dull with drowsiness. "Maybe just... just a short nap." He yawned again, then tucked his head on Lillyheart's back, a soft purr rumbling from the grey tom.

"Sleep well," Lillyheart whispered. "I'll be here when you wake up." Resting her own head down, the sound of Murkfall's purr lead her to sleep.
*
*
*
*
"Quick, somebody wake Lillyheart!"

"I don't think he's breathing."

"We can't let him die, Owltail!"

"Reedfoot, he's not breathing."

"Great Starclan..."

"Do you want me to tell her? I don't think you'll be able to hold it together."

"She's seen so much... and now she's lost him. I jus-"

"I'll wake her, Reedfoot."

Why was everything so dark? Who were Owltail and Reedfoot talking about? Who...

Who had died?

Lillyheart saw Owltail looking at her, eyes dark and solemn. She could see him speaking, but the words seemed unreal, warped by the weight they carried. "Murkfall."